Hair trimming device

ABSTRACT

A hair trimming device having a conventional, electrically operated, clipper supported within a housing in spaced relation with the walls thereof, the cutting end of the clipper being disposed adjacent an open end of the housing, and an adjustable comb, surrounding the open end of the housing, and movable to selectively vary the length of the hair to be left on the scalp being trimmed. A closed end of the housing is connected with a source of suction to remove the clippings.

United States Patent Garcia [15] 3,654,699 1 Apr. 11, 1972 [54] HAIR TRIMMING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Ralph Garcia, C/O Mrs. Paul Barnes, Route 8, Box 32, Winston-Salem, NC. 27106 [22] Filed: July 17,1970

[21] Appl. N0.: 55,761

[52] U.S. Cl ..30/ 133 [51] Int. Cl ..B26b 19/44 [58] Field ofSearch ..30/l33, 201

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,061 8/1917 Bourdelat ..30/133 1,331,218 2/1920 Severson ..30/133 3,260,268 7/1966 Reynolds ..30/l33X 3,273,237 9/1966 Barcaskey ..30/l33 Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-J. C. Peters Attorney-Harry N. Schofer [57] ABSTRACT A hair trimming device having a conventional, electrically operated, clipper supported within a housing in spaced relation with the walls thereof, the cutting end of the clipper being disposed adjacent an open end of the housing, and an adjustable comb, surrounding the open end of the housing, and movable to selectively vary the length of the hair to be left on the scalp being trimmed. A closed end of the housing is connected with a source of suction to remove the clippings.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures HAIR TRIMMING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to hair trimmers, and more particularly to a novel home type or do-it-yourself hair trimming device embodying novel features which makes the device eminently outstanding for its intended function.

It is known that, in order to obtain and maintain good grooming, the hair on a persons scalp must be kept properly shaped by periodic cutting, which requires the services of a professional barber. Unless such hair cuts were performed with regular frequency, the rapid and disorderly growth of hair produces an unkempt appearance. It is recognized that this unkempt in-between-hair-cuts appearance is caused principally by the growth of hair around the neck, ears and temples, and that if the hair at such areas were periodically trimmed between successive hair cuts, the interval between such successive hair cuts could be materially lengthened.

2. Description of the Prior Art A number of home type or do-it-yourself type of hair trimming devices have been proposed, but have not proved to be practicable notwithstanding a demand for these types, because they all require considerable dexterity to operate them, such dexterity acquired only by considerable experience and skill.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel hair trimming device which can readily be operated by an unskilled and inexperienced person to obtain a satisfactory job.

It is a further object to provide a novel hair trimming deice having a suction device which draws a blast of air over a clipper to remove the cuttings and to cool the clipper motor.

It is a still further object to provide a novel hair trimming device embodying a comb which serves to disentangle the hair being trimmed and to raise the hair to a standing position in advance of the cutting edge or cutting teeth of the clipper whereby the hair may be evenly trimmed.

It is a still further object to provide a novel hair trimming device embodying an adjustable comb adjacent the cutting teeth or cutting edge of a clipper to permit the operator to preselect the length of hair remaining on the scalp after trimming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION All of the above objects and advantages are obtained by my invention of a hair trimming device having novel construction features comprising an elongated housing enclosing a conventional electric motor driven hair clipper. The housing is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs which also extend inwardly into engagement with the clipper housing to maintain the latter housing in fixed spaced relation with the walls of the housing of the hair trimming device. One end of the housing of the hair trimming device is open, and the clipper is fixed within the housing in a position wherein the clipping edge or cutting teeth of the clipper are disposed adjacent the open end of the housing of the hair trimming device, so that if the open end of the housing were moved along a persons scalp, the cutting teeth would cut close to the scalp for a close hair trimming.

The opposite end of the housing of the hair trimming device is closed, and is provided with an opening to receive a flexible hose or conduit communicating with a source of suction or subatmospheric pressure, such as, for example, the intake of a blower or injector, which will be effective to produce a flow of air from the ambient atmosphere through the open end of the housing and around the hair clipper through the conduit or flexible hose, to remove the hair clippings and to cool the motor of the clipper.

A comb surrounds the open end of the housing of the hair trimming device, and is made adjustable relative thereto, to vary the distance between the open end of the housing or the teeth of the clipper and the teeth of the comb, in order to selectively vary the length of the hair remaining after trimming. The teeth of the comb, as the trimming device is moved over the scalp, disentangle matted hair and raise the hair to a standing position whereby it can be readily and evenly cut by the cutting teeth of the clipper in an obvious manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A clear understanding of the invention and its operation will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification and from the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the hair trimming device;

FIG. 2 is an end view looking toward the open or clipping end of the hair trimming device, illustrated to a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2, but illustrating the inner hair clipper in elevation;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4- 4 of FIG. 3, omitting the details of the interior of the inner clipper which form no part of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the details of the adjustable comb, drawn to a larger scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the following detailed description, in which the same reference numeral is used throughout the several figures of the drawing to designate the same part, the numeral 10 is used to designate the hair trimming device in its entirety, and comprises a conventional electric motor driven hair clipper 12 enclosed by a two part elongated, tubular, housing including an an upper housing part 14 having a pair of flanges l6 and a lower housing part 18 having a pair of flanges 20. Each of the upper and lower housing parts is of elongated semi-cylindrical form and, when the flanges l6 and 20 are brought together in mating relation as shown in FIG. 4, a cylindrical housing is formed surrounding the hair clipper 12 in spaced relation thereto. The two parts of the housing are secured together by a plurality of self tapping screws 22 passing through aligned bores in the flanges l6 and 20.

The hair clipper 12 is of a type well known in the art having a housing which surrounds an electric motor, the latter being connected with a cutter or cutting teeth 36, disposed at one end of the clipper housing.

The elongated housing has a front open end 24 and a rear closed end 26. The upper housing part 14 has a rearwardly protruding nipple 28 with an opening 29 therein to receive one end of a flexible conduit 30 having a collar 32 thereon adjacent the end abutting the end of the nipple 28. The end of the flexible conduit 30 extends within the housing and is threaded to receive a threaded nut 34 which securely fastens the end of the flexible conduit to the housing. The opposite end of the conduit 30 is connected with a source of subatmospheric pressure such as, for example, the inlet of a blower or injector, not shown, for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter.

The cutting teeth 36 of the hair clipper 12 are disposed adjacent the open end 24 of the elongated housing, as shown in FIG. 3, being maintained in that position by a plurality of Iongitudinally extending ribs 38 formed integrally with the upper and lower housing parts 14 and 18, the ribs being angularly spaced and extending radially inwardly, and the inner ends thereof being contoured to conform with and abut against the outer wall of the housing of the clipper 12 so that, when the screws 22 are tightened, the inner ends of the ribs are forced tightly against the housing of the clipper 12 throughout its length to maintain the latter in fixed relation within the elongated housing in spaced relation with the walls of the elongated housing and with the cutting teeth 36 thereof in a position adjacent the open end 24 of the housing as shown in FIG. 3. The spaces between the ribs form a plurality of longitudinally extending flow passages 40 connecting the open end 24 with the opening 29 in the nipple 28 for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter.

A first electrical conductor 42 extends from the motor of the clipper 12 to a terminal of a switch 44, and a second electrical conductor 46 extends from a second terminal of the switch 44 to a source of electrical current to energize the motor of the clipper 12 when the switch is moved to its N" position. The first electrical conductor 42 may be connected with the switch terminal by means of a well known slip or clip connector to enable the ready disconnection when the clipper is removed from the housing.

To adapt the hair trimming device for cutting hair to any desired length, an adjustable comb 48 is provided on the front end of the elongated housing. This adjustable comb is cylindrical in form to closely surround the housing about the open end 24, and is provided with a ring of axially extending teeth 50. It is evident that, when the comb 48 is moved in an axial direction away from the open end of the housing, the cutting teeth 36 of the clipper 12 will be disposed farther from the ends of the ring of teeth 50, and when the comb 48 is retracted so that the ends of the teeth 50 do not extend beyond the open end 24 of the housing, the cutting teeth 36 of the clipper 12 will protrude beyond the open end 24 and will be able to cut close to the scalp. To facilitate such adjustment, the comb 48 has at least one diagonally extending helical slot 52 of such length as to permit adjustment of the comb from a minimum extended position in which the ends of the teeth 50 coincide with or extend slightly beyond the open end of the housing, to a maximum position in which the ends of the teeth are spaced a desired position in advance of the open end of the housing. A set screw 54 extends through the slot 52 and engages a threaded bore in the housing. The head of the set screw is sufficiently large to overlap the sides of the slot 52 so that, when the set screw 54 is loose, the comb 48 may be rotated easily to extend or retract the teeth of the comb to the desired position, and when the set screw 54 is tightened, the comb will be locked in that adjusted position. lndicia S, M and L are provided along the length of the slot 52, indicating Short, Medium and Long hair, respectively.

The operation of my novel hair trimming device will be evident. The flexible conduit 30 is connected with a source of subatmospheric pressure such as, for example, the intake of a blower or injector, and the conductor 46 is connected with a source of electrical energy. The set screw 54 is loosened and the comb 48 is rotated relative to the housing to position the end of the teeth 50 from the end of the housing and from the cutting teeth 36 of the clipper 12 a desired distance to preselect the length of the hair to be left on the scalp being trimmed. Having preselected the setting of the comb 48 in this manner, the set screw 54 is tightened, the switch 44 is moved to its ON position to set the motor of the hair clipper in operation, and the end of the hair trimming device is moved over the scalp to be trimmed. The source of subatmosphere pressure connected with the flexible conduit 30 creates a flow of air from the ambient atmosphere through the adjustable comb 48 and through the housing by way of the passages 40. As the end of the hair trimming device is moved over the scalp, the teeth 50 of the comb 48, assisted by the flow of air through the teeth and into the housing as explained above, will raise the hair to a standing position, the teeth also being effective to untangle any snarled or tangled hair. The trimmings are entrained by the blast of air flowing from the atmosphere through the passages 40 and into the flexible conduit 30. This flow of air, flowing over the housing of the hair clipper 12, is effective to cool the motor thereof and to maintain it at an efficient operating temperature.

Should more than one adjusting slot 52 be provided, the several slots should be uniformly and angularly spaced about the circumference of the comb and housing.

Should it become necessary to service the hair clipper 12, the screws 22 are removed, the set screw or screws 54 are also removed and the comb 48 slipped off from the open end of the housing, whereby the upper housing 14 is lifted from the lower 18 part, exposing the hair clipper 12, which may be lifted from the ribs 38 of the lower housing part l8 which support it, and the clip connection with the switch 44 disconnected to permit the quick and easy removal of the hair clipper. To reassemble, the conductor 42 with its clip connection is secured to the switch 44, the hair clipper 12 is properly positioned on the ribs 38 in the lower housing part 18, the upper housing part 14 is placed in position over the lower housing part and the screws 22 are inserted in the flanges l6 and 20 and tightened. The adjustable comb 48 is repositioned over the open end 24 of the housing and the set screw or screws 54 are inserted and tightened.

The housing and adjustable comb may be made of any suitable material, but it is preferred that plastics be used. The flexible hose may be made of flexible plastic material or rubber.

While the above description refers to the use of my invention as a hair trimmer, it is evident that it can also be used to cut the entire scalp by careful manipulation.

I claim:

1. A hair trimming device, comprising: an elongated, tubular, housing open at one end and closed at the opposite end; a motor driven hair clipper within said housing, said clipper having a housing surrounding an electric motor, and a cutter, driven by the motor, at one end of said clipper housing; an opening in the closed end of said tubular housing; means connecting said opening with a source of suction; and means supporting said clipper housing axially of said tubular housing in spaced relation with the walls thereof and with said cutter in proximity with said open end of the tubular housing.

2. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 1, in which said supporting means comprises a plurality of ribs integral with the elongated housing and contacting said hair clipper housing, and in which said elongated housing is split in a longitudinal direction to permit separation and removal of said hair clipper.

3. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 1, in which said supporting means includes a plurality of elongated ribs formed integrally with the elongated housing and extending radially inwardly thereof to contact said hair clipper housing, said ribs being angularly spaced from each other and defining with the elongated housing and the enclosed hair clipper housing, a plurality of parallel, axially extending, flow passages for air circulation through the open end of the elongated housing, and through said opening in the closed end of said elongated housing.

4. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 3, in which each of the radially inward ends of said elongated ribs conforms throughout its length with the outer contour of said hair clipper housing, said ribs being of the same radial length to contact with the said hair clipper housing along the length of said hair clipper housing to retain the said hair clipper coaxi ally of the said elongated housing.

5. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 1, including a cylindrical comb surrounding the open end of said elongated housing and rotatably and axially movable thereon, and means to adjustably position said comb relative to the open end of said housing to adjustably position the cutter of said hair clipper relative to the scalp to be trimmed.

6. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 5, including at least one helical slot in said cylindrical comb, and means cooperating with said slot and said elongated housing to axially move and to retain said cylindrical comb in adjusted posi- I tion. 

1. A hair trimming device, comprising: an elongated, tubular, housing open at one end and closed at the opposite end; a motor driven hair clipper within said housing, said clipper having a housing surrounding an electric motor, and a cutter, driven by the motor, at one end of said clipper housing; an opening in the closed end of said tubular housing; means connecting said opening with a source of suction; and means supporting said clipper housing axially of said tubular housing in spaced relation with the walls thereof and with said cutter in proximity with said open end of the tubular housing.
 2. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 1, in which said supporting means comprises a plurality of ribs integral with the elongated housing and contacting said hair clipper housing, and in which said elongated housing is split in a longitudinal direction to permit separation and removal of said hair clipper.
 3. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 1, in which said supporting means includes a plurality of elongated ribs formed integrally with the elongated housing and extending radially inwardly thereof to contact said hair clipper housing, said ribs being angularly spaced from each other and defining with the elongated housing and the enclosed hair clipper housing, a plurality of parallel, axially extending, flow passages for air circulation through the open end of the elongated housing, and through said opening in the closed end of said elongated housing.
 4. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 3, in which each of the radially inward ends of said elongated ribs conforms throughout its length with the outer contour of said hair clipper housing, said ribs being of the same radial length to contact with the said hair clipper housing along the length of said hair clipper Housing to retain the said hair clipper coaxially of the said elongated housing.
 5. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 1, including a cylindrical comb surrounding the open end of said elongated housing and rotatably and axially movable thereon, and means to adjustably position said comb relative to the open end of said housing to adjustably position the cutter of said hair clipper relative to the scalp to be trimmed.
 6. A hair trimming device as defined in claim 5, including at least one helical slot in said cylindrical comb, and means cooperating with said slot and said elongated housing to axially move and to retain said cylindrical comb in adjusted position. 